Chapter 63: The Confused Abbot
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Xie Cheng Xi experienced a sudden wave of dread in his heart. From the very beginning, he had inadvertently made the young lady under his care cry, a mistake he feared might have dire consequences. He was convinced that his actions had sealed his fate, leading to inevitable doom.
When Lu Yan Shu entered the room, pushing a wheelchair, that’s how he found Lu Chao Chao in a state of intense agitation, so much so that she was on the verge of hyperventilating from her anger.
“Bad… bad… scold him, scold him…” Her words were jumbled and difficult to make out through her sobs.
Embracing her, Lu Yan Shu struggled to suppress his laughter, trying to maintain a serious demeanor. “My sister is quite the prankster, Your Highness. Please accept our apologies,” he said, eyeing the crown prince carefully. He was reassured to see a weary but familiar smile on the prince’s face.
“No, no, it’s entirely my fault. Chao Chao’s feelings are genuine, and I was the one who upset her,” the crown prince responded, casting a wary look towards Chao Chao, who responded with a glare.
“Let’s have four meatballs for dinner,” Lu Yan Shu suggested casually, trying to lighten the mood.
This brief distraction halted Chao Chao’s tears momentarily before she resumed crying while covering her face, this time with a demand, “And honey-roasted pigeon.”
Noticing the cooler weather, Lu Yan Shu proposed, “It’s chilly today; perhaps we should also prepare a hotpot. It seems Chao Chao isn’t in the mood to eat, so maybe we should…”
Interrupting him, Chao Chao suddenly cried out through her tears, “I want it, I want it! Chao Chao wants it!” She stared at her brother with wide, tearful eyes and a defiant pout.
The crown prince, feeling a sense of relief at this turn of events, quickly ordered the servants to get dinner ready.
Lu Yan Shu couldn’t help but feel a twinge of suspicion. His recent interactions with the crown prince had deepened their understanding of each other. The prince was a man of learning and showed great respect towards Lu Yan Shu. However, his demeanor shifted noticeably when it came to Chao Chao.
Whenever Chao Chao was present, the crown prince would go out of his way to take care of her needs. He meticulously removed bones from her food, served her meals, poured hot water for her, and even took care of washing her face and hands. His attentiveness elevated Chao Chao’s status significantly, making her seem very important. This continued until the moment she left, with the prince waiting at the door until she was out of sight before finally turning away.
As they rode back in the carriage, Chao Chao wanted to doze off in the arms of her second brother, Lu Zheng Yue.
“What happened today at the Eastern Palace?” Lu Yan Shu, the eldest brother, inquired.
In her half-asleep state, Chao Chao mumbled, “Chicken leg!”
Lu Yan Shu couldn’t help but let out an exasperated sigh. “Was there anything else besides the chicken leg?”
After a moment, she added, “Pigeon…”
“Besides the food!” Lu Yan Shu pressed, his frustration growing.
Pondering for a moment, the little one furrowed her brow and said, “Crying… Crown Prince cried. Bang bang…” She then gestured towards her forehead, mimicking the act of kowtowing.
Lu Yan Shu: Perhaps you should vent a bit in your mind?
In that moment, her mind was completely captivated by the memories of the feast she had just enjoyed at the Eastern Palace. She couldn’t stop thinking about how incredibly delicious the food had been. The crispy pigeon, in particular, had been outstanding; it seemed to just melt in her mouth with its exquisite flavor. And then there was the soup they had served tonight—it had been nothing short of divine. “Oh, I’m so full,” she lamented, half-jokingly wishing she had a second stomach to continue enjoying the culinary delights. Unfortunately, she had missed out on the roasted lamb leg this evening, which was a real shame. She had caught a whiff of its enticing aroma and couldn’t help but salivate at the thought.
[Teeth, teeth, I must grow more teeth, and quickly…] she dreamily mused, fantasizing about enjoying more such feasts.
Meanwhile, Lu Yan Shu found himself trying to block out her enthusiastic descriptions. It seemed better, he concluded, to just not listen to her food-filled rapture.
By the time their carriage had made its way back to the Marquis Mansion, the moon was already casting its bright light across the sky.
Lu Yuan Ze had taken to spending his nights in Su Zhi Qing’s room, as had become his routine. Ever since Madam Xu had assured Su Zhi Qing of her upcoming promotion to his equal wife, she had employed every strategy to ensure Lu Yuan Ze’s nightly presence in her chambers. Pei Jiao Jiao had covertly shared with her all of Lu Yuan Ze’s personal likes and preferences, making it all the more easier for her to cater to his desires.
Lu Yuan Ze, for his part, was in remarkably high spirits these days. The family of Lu Jing Huai’s fiancée, the Jiangs, had recently celebrated a significant promotion. The elder Mr. Jiang had been elevated from his position at the Dali Temple to the prestigious role of head of the Hanlin Academy, making him a second-rank official. Furthermore, Lu Jing Huai, his other son, had crafted a poem that had quickly become the talk of the town, hailed as an unparalleled masterpiece and spreading his name far and wide.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Approaching wine… Do you not see, the waters of the Yellow River coming down from the sky, journeying to the sea, never to return. And those in the high halls, in front of bright mirrors, lamenting the transformation of black hair to white, as morning’s black silk turns to evening’s snow…”
These words could be heard from a distance, emanating from the Qingping Courtyard.
“What a great poem, truly a masterpiece for the ages!” exclaimed Lu Yuan Ze, clearly inebriated but brimming with joy.
He was incredibly proud of his children, Jing Huai and Jing Yao, for their remarkable achievements.
When news of this poem reached the palace, even the king himself inquired about Lu Jing Huai.
Meanwhile, in another courtyard of the estate where the siblings resided.
“Lu Jing Huai actually wrote that masterpiece?” Lu Zheng Yue, the second brother, was visibly shocked upon hearing the poem and quickly turned to his eldest brother for confirmation. The eldest brother, confined to a wheelchair, maintained a serene expression in response.
Lu Chao Chao yawned, [Her sister is from a civilization with five thousand years of history, of course he could do it. He’s had countless famous people to plagiarize from!]
This insinuation from her baby sister visibly angered Lu Zheng Yue, who clenched his fists in frustration.
Always the voice of calm, Lu Yan Shu pointed out, “In the royal examination, being able to compose poetry is not enough.”
Lu Zheng Yue’s frustration seemed to melt away in the presence of his older brother as if his mere presence could simplify all complexities.
Elsewhere at night, the abbot of the National Temple stood silently under the stars, his gaze unfocused due to his blind eyes. He’s relying on his disciple to observe the heavens on his behalf.
The young fourth prince, who had chosen the path of a monk, gazed up at the night sky with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Master,” he began, his voice filled with wonder and a hint of anxiety, “the Ziwei star flickered tonight, sometimes shining brightly, sometimes dimming. Why is that happening? Master, look! The Ziwei star is getting dimmer. It seems to be darkening…”
For the fourth prince, the flickering of the Ziwei star was not just a celestial event; it bore significant personal and royal implications. The Ziwei star, traditionally associated with the king, symbolized the royal family’s fortune, including his own.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he couldn’t contain his amazement. “Master, master!! A celestial phenomenon, something truly extraordinary is happening! How unusual!” His enthusiasm was infectious, and soon, many monks gathered around to witness this rare celestial event.
The monks, sensing the importance of this moment, joined their hands in prayer, hoping that this phenomenon would bring peace and prosperity to the people.
“Master, it’s so strange. Out of nowhere, a bright star has appeared, outshining all others. All the stars seem to revolve around it. Even the Ziwei star, which is now beneath it, seems to willingly support it. Master, could this mean that a remarkable person has emerged?” The fourth prince’s eyes were wide with anticipation and hope.
In their tradition, celestial phenomena like these were seen as omens indicating the state of the world; a new star dominating the night sky was a sign that this person was destined for greatness.
With a gentle smile, the abbot responded, “A person capable of altering our current circumstances has indeed emerged. This individual has the potential to save the masses from their suffering, bringing hope to our world.” With that, the abbot brought his hands together in a gesture of reverence and prayer.
“Master, could this person heal your blindness?” The fourth prince, concerned for his master’s well-being, couldn’t resist asking.
The abbot, however, gently shook his head. “Such a unique and formidable individual, tasked with the weighty responsibility of saving the world, should not be distracted by lesser concerns,” he explained, hinting at the grandeur of the task at hand and the peculiar nature of such a powerful being.
Meanwhile, back at her home, the ten-month-old Lu Chao Chao, with a baby bottle in hand, was busy with her own concerns. After a satisfying gulp of milk, she nonchalantly dropped the bottle to the ground, her tiny mind already drifting to dreams of culinary delights.
Even in her dreams, she murmured complaints about the lack of treats, [Not even a chicken leg, how stingy.]
[No more saving… to hell with them,] she decided, turning her thoughts instead to a lavish feast of her own imagining: [soy-glazed pork knuckle, spicy kidneys, sour and spicy tripe, sesame phoenix tails, spring onion-braised sea cucumber…]
And amidst these dreamy culinary musings, her greatest concern was the impending challenge of growing teeth strong enough to enjoy these delectable meats.